GRRC Membership - Is it worth it?

[Squidward]

Evening all,

Hoping I might be able to obtain some advice from you sensible folk


Simple question is - should I bother becoming a Goodwood Fellow - am I missing something or is full GRRC membership just paying an annual fee to end up having to pay the same as all the other punters for the basic tickets to the main events, with some additional (more expensive) exclusive options for tickets/events thrown in?

I live about half an hour down the road and do go down regularly, just to nose about the pits on trackdays or to sit in the sun and watch/listen to the cars on track. My full GRRC Membership is supposedly due imminently, but I'm genuinely wondering what value I'll get out of it? I would go to the Members meeting and Revival, and I'd do the odd trackday there, but not much else....

As far as I can see, as full a member, you get early bird tickets to the main events but no discount off punter prices, and you don't get any money off trackdays, just the more exclusive less subscribed GRRC Members only trackdays.... Obviously there are the driving holidays (which I'd rather itinerise and do with friends), and the more exclusive members only areas at Festival and Revival (all of which generally take you away from the bits that petrolheads are genuinely interested in like the cars and the motor circuit/hillclimb)

I'm sortof wondering what the point in paying through the nose for membership (I believe its something to the tune of £300quid first year) for essentially broadly the same experience I get already? Am I missing something here?!

Probably sounds like I've made my mind up, but I'm quite conflicted because I've been on the membership waiting list for bloody years, so I'm now apprehensive about ducking out now I've nearly made it to the top of the ladder!!! :lol:

Answers on a postcard

Cheers

Ed

[AREA]

Use of The Kennels, GRRC enclosures & paddock passes at The Revival, various other social / club events (for instance, a behind the scenes tour of the stables and racecourse last year was excellent).

If you view it as a route to discounts on tickets then it's probably not for you. If you want to take advantage of more that Goodwood has to offer members then it's worth it. Being local you might want to.

[No ideas for a name]

You are in danger of starting me off with this one...

I wasn't keen on the introduction of the Fellows idea. I feel it takes something away from (full) Membership and dilutes that. Little benefit for most in stepping up to a full member if you are a Fellow. It looks just like a way to monitise the waiting list.

Also oddly named, in that a Fellow is usually a higher grade of membership of a club or society than a Member... in the GRRC it is the otherway around. I thought when it was announced that a Fellow might be the next step up - say after 10 years of Membership.

I would say from your description, it would be worth you becoming a full member as you are local. Not so good for me as I am 200 miles away. I don't get the chance to use the facilities as I am very rarely at that end of the country.

However, grumpy as I may be, I am still going to keep being a Member - will be at The Members' Meeting, but probably not at FoS or Revival (though I was there this year).

Note, your first year you pay your membership fees PLUS a joining fee.



Edited to add a bit:

I see you aren't a Fellow yet but are on the waiting list? I thought all on the waiting list had automatically been transferred to fellows and been asked for their £29.
As far as I know if you don't become a fellow, you are off the list and you won't ever become a member.

Edited by No ideas for a name on Friday 22 September 08:28

[TimCrighton]

As above - it all depends on how you use it.

If you approach it only for the discount on the tickets then no, it doesn't make sense. There are usually plenty of tickets available.

Paddock passes are a benefit but they have taken away considerably from the benefits of membership in the past few years. As a member you used to be able to view from the roof of the garages at the Revival all of the infield viewing is now exclusively for Corporate Hospitality.

I love the Members Meeting, but you can buy tickets for that as a non member or fellow now so it will be interesting to see what numbers are like next year there.

The Kennels are wonderful and the staff are brilliant - I love it, its probably my reason for keeping my membership - we don't go often enough but we do sometimes for Sunday lunch and we pretty much live there during MM's and the Revival usually having Breakfast and Dinner there.

I agree with you - if I'm doing a track day or a tour I tend to do it with mates, but some of the events are interesting - workshop tours etc and I keep vowing I should do more of them but I never find the time so as much as I am tempted to say the membership isn't worth the money actually I'm pretty convinced I don't make the most of it either... So its a catch 22 - if you can make the most of it you'll get the benefit from it.

[Ian Wegg]

The full list of benefits is here: https://www.goodwood.com/grrc/member-area/benefits...

You do get a discount on two tickets for each event and discounted programmes, as well as 15% discount on some shop items. But as others have said, if by "worth it" you mean financially then definitely not.

[wilwak]

Ian Wegg said:

The full list of benefits is here: https://www.goodwood.com/grrc/member-area/benefits...

You do get a discount on two tickets for each event and discounted programmes, as well as 15% discount on some shop items. But as others have said, if by "worth it" you mean financially then definitely not.

It's interesting to read the benefits. I don't think they are made clear.

I went to Revival and was wearing my members lapel pin. I wasn't allowed in to the paddock. They said I needed a pass and turned me away.

I saw the members grandstand but I didn't use it as I didn't realise that it was open for members to just use. Again I assumed a pass was needed.

I displayed my car badge in my windscreen but wasn't directed to the members parking area.

In fact I left Revival thinking there was no advantage to being a member.

[No ideas for a name]

wilwak said:

I went to Revival and was wearing my members lapel pin. I wasn't allowed in to the paddock. They said I needed a pass and turned me away.

I saw the members grandstand but I didn't use it as I didn't realise that it was open for members to just use. Again I assumed a pass was needed.

I displayed my car badge in my windscreen but wasn't directed to the members parking area.

In fact I left Revival thinking there was no advantage to being a member.

To get paddock access you need to order a paddock pass - these are free, but have to be specifically ordered. You would think that if you are a member, then these would be included automatically.... but they are not.

As far as I know - and will be mad with myself if otherwise - the Members' Grandstand is again extra cost. If I remember correctly, the package that includes that was something like £500.

Windscreen badges - the carpark guys are not too brilliant at directing you unless you point it out. However, realise that most members will have been regulars and know where they are going. Left hand side on New Road, gets you straight to the Members' or Pre-Tax carpark. (You can get there via the other lane but then need to be crossed over). To be fair, with it pouring down with rain the carpark guys have other things to look out for... Usually no one takes a blind bit of notice them and they get a bit frustrated with trying to help every one.

The financial benefits of Membership don't stack up, particularly if you are not local. That said, I am still staying as a Member.

[ecsrobin]

I think your looking over £400 for your first year of membership (including joining fee). The £29 per year of fellowship gets knocked off that fee which makes it slightly easier to pay.

As for benefits, by the time I deduct the savings at FOS and revival, add an imaginary cost for paddock passes, include the annual members day (with free activities for the children and entrance to the house) and membership of the Kennels I’d say it’s break even.

I visit the Kennels around twice a month the circuit maybe a bit more so for me it’s still worth it. Live further away and only attend FOS/Revival then probably not.

[No ideas for a name]

Squidward said:

Evening all,
Simple question is - should I bother becoming a Goodwood Fellow - am I missing something or is full GRRC membership just paying an annual fee to end up having to pay the same as all the other punters for the basic tickets to the main events, with some additional (more expensive) exclusive options for tickets/events thrown in?
.......
My full GRRC Membership is supposedly due imminently, but I'm genuinely wondering what value I'll get out of it?

I said:

Edited to add a bit:

I see you aren't a Fellow yet but are on the waiting list? I thought all on the waiting list had automatically been transferred to fellows and been asked for their £29.
As far as I know if you don't become a fellow, you are off the list and you won't ever become a member?

Just to go back to this... since I added a bit retrospectively to my post.

Are you just on the waiting list (which I didn't think existed anymore) and considering being a fellow?
Options being no - then you never get to be a member, or yes, wait until you are offered membership.

[TimCrighton]

Do we know the total number of members? I was told they markedly expanded the member numbers last year?

FWIW above the Members Grand Stand is definitely extra cost. As is the infield parking etc. Membership just gets you a right to pay more for those things!

That said I'm happy being a member and enjoy it.

[Ian Wegg]

No ideas for a name said:

To get paddock access you need to order a paddock pass - these are free, but have to be specifically ordered. You would think that if you are a member, then these would be included automatically.... but they are not.
...
Left hand side on New Road, gets you straight to the Members' or Pre-Tax carpark. (You can get there via the other lane but then need to be crossed over). To be fair, with it pouring down with rain the carpark guys have other things to look out for...

The paddock pass issue has been a common gripe for years (probably second only to £7 courier being the default delivery option). Why they don't just send passes with the tickets to members I don't know, I think I have only remembered to order them once. The checks on the paddocks were much stricter this year.

WRT the car stickers, a message was posted on the internal GRRC forum on the Saturday that the members' forward parking was being suspended as the car park company were concentrating on just getting people in.

~iw

[RichB]

AREA said:

Use of The Kennels, GRRC enclosures & paddock passes at The Revival, various other social / club events (for instance, a behind the scenes tour of the stables and racecourse last year was excellent).

If you view it as a route to discounts on tickets then it's probably not for you. If you want to take advantage of more that Goodwood has to offer members then it's worth it. Being local you might want to.

That's crux of it. If you want to add up the discounts and equate it to the cost then it won't add up. If you feel you will get some use out of membership then join. I maintain my membership mainly for access to Chicane grandstand, use of the members marquee at the Revival and the Annual GRRC Display and Open day, oh and the Members Meeting but you currently don't have to be a member for that ;-)

It's rather like people who ask if a car club is "worth it" meaning does the discount on insurance and parts cover the cost of membership. The answer is usually not but then there's more to a club that discounts.

[Ian Wegg]

TimCrighton said:

Do we know the total number of members? I was told they markedly expanded the member numbers last year?

The number of members was originally set at 5,000. As "a trial" a 10% increase was made for 2015 to bring it to 5,500, and an increase of " a similar proportion" was to be considered for 2016. Although no announcement was made I believe the second increase went ahead. I was told by the office earlier this year that they had 6,000 members.

Goodwood always quote their retention rate as about 95%. The extra places were designed to reduce the waiting list from 10 years to 5.

[ewand]

Ian Wegg said:

No ideas for a name said:

To get paddock access you need to order a paddock pass - these are free, but have to be specifically ordered. You would think that if you are a member, then these would be included automatically.... but they are not.
...
Left hand side on New Road, gets you straight to the Members' or Pre-Tax carpark. (You can get there via the other lane but then need to be crossed over). To be fair, with it pouring down with rain the carpark guys have other things to look out for...

The paddock pass issue has been a common gripe for years (probably second only to £7 courier being the default delivery option). Why they don't just send passes with the tickets to members I don't know, I think I have only remembered to order them once. The checks on the paddocks were much stricter this year.

WRT the car stickers, a message was posted on the internal GRRC forum on the Saturday that the members' forward parking was being suspended as the car park company were concentrating on just getting people in.

~iw

FWIW, if you forget to order your paddock passes, you can collect some from the ticket office on site - just take your membership card with you.
Or just remember to add Paddock passes to the order when you're buying your revival tickets ;-)

[Ian Wegg]

ewand said:

FWIW, if you forget to order your paddock passes, you can collect some from the ticket office on site - just take your membership card with you.

Yes so I understand, I have heard of members doing that successfully. It's strange that the website specifically says the passes are not available on the day under any circumstances.

ewand said:

Or just remember to add Paddock passes to the order when you're buying your revival tickets ;-)

Yes, that's the trick. Having forgotten so many times I think I will remember in future but the ordering process really ought to make it more obvious. How many members buy Revival tickets but decide they don't want paddock passes?

~iw

[56Lotus]

Phone up, you get to speak to a lovely, friendly, helpful person and they prompt you for all the bits you might need, far better than an unhelpful, recalcitrant computer.

On a more serious note I'm a distant member and every year i struggle to justify the cost but still seem to renew year after year after year........

Jon

[TimCrighton]

56Lotus said:

Phone up, you get to speak to a lovely, friendly, helpful person and they prompt you for all the bits you might need, far better than an unhelpful, recalcitrant computer.

Definitely the best thing to do - the web booking for Members is so illogical and I can never seem to work out how to apply the discount so I always end up having to call them.

[hurstg01]

RichB said:

AREA said:

Use of The Kennels, GRRC enclosures & paddock passes at The Revival, various other social / club events (for instance, a behind the scenes tour of the stables and racecourse last year was excellent).

If you view it as a route to discounts on tickets then it's probably not for you. If you want to take advantage of more that Goodwood has to offer members then it's worth it. Being local you might want to.

That's crux of it. If you want to add up the discounts and equate it to the cost then it won't add up. If you feel you will get some use out of membership then join. I maintain my membership mainly for access to Chicane grandstand, use of the members marquee at the Revival and the Annual GRRC Display and Open day, oh and the Members Meeting but you currently don't have to be a member for that ;-)

It's rather like people who ask if a car club is "worth it" meaning does the discount on insurance and parts cover the cost of membership. The answer is usually not but then there's more to a club that discounts.

I'm leaning towards not renewing this year - The Members Meeting now being open to non members, the FoS having the Kinrara is nice but not super-essential for me nor are the Grandstands, I haven't been to the Revival for a few years as it clashes with my Daughters Birthday and that isn't going to change anytime soon so the desire for a Members only pass to the paddocks isn't there, and the membership cost minus the discount on tickets offered still leaves me paying for stuff I don't really need to. I live over an hour away so I'm not too local, I've no current interest in any of the Driving Days, don't interrupt a good walk with a stick and a ball, and have only been to the GRRC Open Day once and it was OK but not awesome, the Kennels are lovely and for me the main sticking point for keeping the membership going is access to it but apart from that, there's not much else that not having the membership gives me

All IMHO of course

[Ian Wegg]

hurstg01 said:

I'm leaning towards not renewing this year - The Members Meeting now being open to non members ...

I have to pick up on that one as you're the second person to say that. The MM isn't now open to non-members, it always has been. Tickets go on sale to members, and these days "fellows", until the end of the year then any remaining tickets go on general sale. So far no MM has sold out to members but it could happen.

[hurstg01]

Ian Wegg said:

hurstg01 said:

I'm leaning towards not renewing this year - The Members Meeting now being open to non members ...

I have to pick up on that one as you're the second person to say that. The MM isn't now open to non-members, it always has been. Tickets go on sale to members, and these days "fellows", until the end of the year then any remaining tickets go on general sale. So far no MM has sold out to members but it could happen.

Cheers for clearing that up - I thought it was Members Only, hence the name, but the post above mine made me question it but still typed it anyway